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Biomarkers and inorganic geochemical elements of Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous limestone sediments from Banik Village in the Kurdistan Region, Northern Iraq: implications for origin of organic matter and depositional environment conditions

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Abstract

Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous limestone sediments from Banik Village in the Kurdistan Region, Northern Iraq, were analysed based on a combined investigation of elemental composition and biomarker characterisation. These investigations were used to define the origin, type of organic matters and their relation to the environment conditions during deposition. The bulk geochemical characteristics indicated that the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous limestone sediments were deposited in a marine environment with calcium-rich seawater. Their biomarkers provide evidence for a major contribution by aquatic organic matter with a minor terrigenous organic matter contribution. This is confirmed by normal alkanes, hopanoids, steroids and related compounds of the saturated hydrocarbons. Moreover, the salinity stratification and relatively reducing bottom water conditions are evidenced in the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous limestone sediments, as identified from Sr/Br, V/Ni and Pr/Ph ratios. The occurrence of gammacerane biomarker in the analysed samples is also a strong indicator of reducing and salinity stratification during deposition. Therefore, a stratified water column with salinity and relatively anoxic bottom water conditions contribute to organic matter (OM) preservation.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are most grateful to the Department of Geology in the University Malaya for providing geochemistry facilities to complete this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geology Department, Faculty of Applied Science, Taiz University, 6803, Taiz, Yemen

    Mohammed Hail Hakimi

  2. Department of Geology, School of Science, University of Sulaimani, Kurdistan, Iraq

    Ibrahim M. J. Mohialdeen

  3. Department of Geology, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Wan Hasiah Abdullah, Yousif M. Makeen & Khairul Azlan Mustapha

  4. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, England

    William Wimbledon

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  1. Mohammed Hail Hakimi
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Correspondence to Mohammed Hail Hakimi.

Appendix A

Appendix A

Table 3 Peak assignments for n-alkane hydrocarbons in the gas chromatograms of saturated fractions in the m/z 191 (I) and 217 (II) mass fragmentograms compound abbreviation
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Hakimi, M.H., Mohialdeen, I.M.J., Abdullah, W.H. et al. Biomarkers and inorganic geochemical elements of Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous limestone sediments from Banik Village in the Kurdistan Region, Northern Iraq: implications for origin of organic matter and depositional environment conditions. Arab J Geosci 8, 9407–9421 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-015-1863-y

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